Epidemiological profile of dengue in Champasak and Savannakhet provinces, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 2003–2020

Abstract

Dengue is a public health issue in tropical south-eastern Asia responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. Information on dengue epidemiology is necessary for developing strategies to control infections effectively. In the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), Champasak and Savannakhet provinces account for around 30% of the national dengue burden. In this study, the dengue epidemiological profile in these two southern provinces of Lao PDR was described by analysing seasonal and spatial dengue notification data from 2003–2020 using the long-term mean (LTM) method. Savannakhet had a higher LTM (132.0 cases/month, 95% confidence interval [Cl]: 92.2–171.7) than Champasak (113.3 cases/month, 95% CI: 86.0–140.5), with peaks in dengue notifications following the rainy season in both provinces. The highest notification rates were observed in July to September; these months were also when the LTM was most frequently exceeded. Previously, dengue notifications were largely confined to the western districts of Savannakhet and the northern districts of Champasak, but more recently, notifications have increased in the eastern districts of Savannakhet and southern districts of Champasak. While the notification rate remained high in children and young adults (5–30 years), especially among students and farmers, a shift in the age structure of dengue cases was observed, with a greater proportion of notifications now occurring in those aged over 30 years. Community-based vector control and prevention programmes are needed to restrict the spread of dengue into new geographical areas in the southern provinces of Lao PDR.

Current and lagged associations of meteorological variables andAedesmosquito indices with dengue incidence in the Philippines

“…The disease is endemic in over 100 countries and more than 3.5 billion people are at risk of DENV infection [3,4]. Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific have historically been and are still among the most affected places [5][6][7][8].The public health significance of dengue in the Philippines has continued since its initial discovery in 1954 to date [9]. The exceptionally high numbers of reported infections incidence and dengue-associated mortality cases in a span of five years, from 2010 to 2014, claiming at least 812,525 victims and resulting in nearly 3,500 deaths, illustrates the high burden in the population.…”

Current and lagged associations of meteorological variables and Aedes mosquito indices with dengue incidence in the Philippines

“…The disease is endemic in over 100 countries and more than 3.5 billion people are at risk of DENV infection [ 3 , 4 ]. Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific have historically been and are still among the most affected places [ 5 – 8 ]. The public health significance of dengue in the Philippines has continued since its initial discovery in 1954 to date [ 9 ].…”